Simple, Low-Cost Ways to Cut the Risk of an Early Birth
This is the VOA Special English Development Report, from voaspecialenglish.com We talked last week about a new report on preterm births the leading cause of death in newborn babies worldwide. Each year an estimated thirteen million babies are born too soon. More than one million of them die as a result of their prematurity. Yet experts say many early births can be prevented. The report came from the March of Dimes and the World Health Organization. Christopher Howson is the vice president for global programs at the March of Dimes, a nonprofit group. He says there are a number of simple, low-cost interventions that can improve the chances of a full-term birth. Mister Howson said “We should treat malnutrition in women both before and during pregnancy. We should treat infections that increase risk. We should monitor pregnancies carefully for signs of trouble. And should that baby be born preterm, we should care for that baby by providing a package of interventions that have been shown to be tried and true and very effective.” For example, there are programs in Africa that teach the skin-to-skin method, also known as kangaroo care. Mothers learn to carry preterm babies in front instead of the traditional African way of carrying a baby on the mother’s back. Skin-to-skin helps keep a preterm baby warm and makes it easier for the baby to breastfeed. Most preterm births take place in Africa and Asia. But rates in the United States have increased by more than one-third in the last …
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